Receptionist salaries are rising and competition for skilled talent is heating up as companies expand their administrative teams across Canada. Although that means it may be easier to find a job, you'll still need a to showcase your receptionist skills to land the position you want most. Make sure you highlight these eight skills on your receptionist resume to stand out from the competition:
1. Communication
First and foremost, you should focus on your verbal and written communication skills, along with your sharp listening abilities. When writing your receptionist resume, play up your customer service successes and your track record of providing office support.
2. Multitasking
Handling several tasks simultaneously is the status quo for receptionists. Some examples include juggling multiple phone lines; face-to-face contact with clients, visitors and employees; and clerical duties. Note the types of tasks and situations you've handled regularly – and how you did so calmly and efficiently.
Need more examples? Check out this post for examples of soft and technical skills to include on your resume.
3. Prioritizing
Receptionists are often tasked with tackling dozens of duties at once, with many requests coming in on the fly, requiring you to operate with grace under fire. Detail how you prioritize multiple projects and requests. The last thing an employer wants is an easily flustered receptionist.
4. Organization
A stellar receptionist resume shows that you're organized in every task or project you take on. A great receptionist should be able to find files and phone numbers at a moment's notice and maintain a tidy work area. On your receptionist resume, highlight a filing system you implemented or how you typically organize key contacts so you always have them at your fingertips.
5. Technical skills
Your receptionist resume should include your experience using phone systems, copiers and printers. Word processing skills are a must, while familiarity with Excel, desktop publishing or industry-specific software can give you an edge. Be sure to play up these assets.
Looking to go the extra mile? Read this post to find out if getting an administrative certification is worth it.
6. Interpersonal skills
As a receptionist, you are the eyes and ears of the company, making soft skills like dealing with office politics crucial to protecting your own reputation and the company's. Note your ability to maintain good relationships with employees at all levels of the company, including executives.
7. Initiative and problem-solving abilities
As part of our research for our latest Salary Guide, results found that administrative professionals are taking on a multitude of tasks beyond their conventional role, ranging from job applicant screening, to purchasing, to social media and marketing. In addition, 85% of managers reported that it's challenging to find skilled administrative and customer support professionals, making these individuals and their skills in high demand. Prove how essential you've been to past managers by highlighting your receptionist skills through examples of ways you took the initiative to solve problems and take on special projects.
8. Dependability
Because receptionists interface with nearly every client and employee — whether it's face to face or on the phone — they need to be highly dependable. Spell out in your receptionist resume your track record for not letting anything slip through the cracks.
While some of these skills may seem like a given, it's essential to bring them to light in your receptionist resume. Showing that you're well-rounded in these key areas could give you the edge during the hiring process.
